#w.a.y.

Nevaeh kept hearing the same old question for a couple of days now. Nevaeh, my name is Nevaeh. Hi, I’m Nevaeh. It was getting redundant. She thought of creating another response but her senses were failing her this time. So what now? Wait until winter nights give her inspiration?  Truth to be said, Nevaeh had not encountered such question not until she came to Insolitus. To each students busily doing their own businesses, Nevaeh was only a new student trying to adjust with the new environment. This was new to her too. Nobody knew who and what she was, and no one would be there to guide her where and when to go to places unfamiliar. Basically, she was on her own. And now she realized how much effort would be needed in order to properly enjoy her stay at school. 

One cloudy afternoon after her chemistry class, Nevaeh was on her way to go out of the room when she accidentally bumped into a young maiden who was in a hurry to leave the room as well. She was one of the prettiest Nevaeh had seen for ages.  With fair, healthy glowing skin and silky hair, She got mesmerized. Those were a few of human features she admired the most. Her eyes widen in surprise as if she committed an unforgivable sin, and for the first time she offered a hand to help the other get up from the cold tile floor. “I’m sorry. Are you hurt somewhere?” Nevaeh worriedly asked. She examined her face and waited for the other’s response. 

Something was odd. Nevaeh felt a different vibe.. “What is this feeling?” She thought as if the time stopped. The lady in front of her was not an ordinary creature… No she definitely was not. Then Who was she? Nevaeh stayed frozen and instead of the other person asking her the question, she blurted it out. “Who are you?” 

Seukhye was tired of new students. Tired of constantly being outdone by people who just arrived. They were all better than her in some way. They were smarter, prettier, taller, more talented, and funnier. It didn’t matter. Sure it seemed stupid, but she had never been the most confident girl. Lately, it seemed like everyone was abandoning her for someone else. She knew she wasn’t special, but was she really that unimportant? Ridiculous! This bout of insecurity was going to kill her. All brought on because Seukhye happened to glance at a new girl. She was gorgeous. Absolutely captivating. And of course, everyone was surrounding her, asking who she was, where she was from, and other bull shit like that. She just scoffed and stared at the bored. Stupid, beautiful girl, distracting her and upsetting her.

She felt the shift in her eyes, knew they were changing color. Curiosity beat her though, and she leaned over one of the desks to a sleeping Veela. You can always count on a Veela to have a mirror with them. Such vain creatures.. Handy at the moment though. She patted the sleeping student on the head and glanced at herself in the mirror, gasping as her eyes appeared a sharp crystal blue.That’s new… she thought to herself. At that moment, the bell for class to end rang. Seukhye set down the mirror and rushed to leave the room, but was knocked to the ground by another who was equally in a rush to get away.

A glance up and she practically froze. It was the new girl! After a moment of recollecting herself, she took the girl’s hand, surprisingly soft, and stood, a bright blush donning her cheeks. She bowed just slightly to her and smiled sheepishly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m alright, don’t worry about it. It happens.” She told her, mesmerized by her soft, sweet voice. But the other girl’s mood shifted suddenly. Seukhye watched in confusion as emotions flickered across her features. Her next question caught her off guard and it took her a moment to understand it. “Um.. Hi. I’m Seukhye?” She offered, hoping that was indeed what she had been asking. 

“Are you sure?” Nevaeh caught up with words  dusted off the dirt stuck right behind the maiden’s skirt. She sure had forgotten her status as a princess to even help clean someone’s dress. Well, good thing she was adopting way faster than she thought. No she definitely is not an ordinary creature. Nevaeh made it certain after touching the maiden’s hand while helping her up a few seconds ago. What was bothering her anyways? wasn’t Insolitus a school polluted with races to some extent unknown to pixie like her? Even from the books she read from the forbidden library, Nevaeh couldn’t figure her race by just one look of her face. Unfortunately she wasn’t that kind of creature to tell. Nevaeh certainly had more abilities than other pixies, but it wasn’t enough. 

Why am I too concern about this? She seemed to be okay. She even look prettier than me ( Now, this is something new for her to say. A fairy admitting her beauty is less than someone else’s?) But… what if she’s just using a mask or spell to conceal her true image? Nevaeh wasn’t sure why she would even waste energy just to figure out something she could’ve just ask. The person was right in front of her but no exact words were formed during the process. 

"Seukhye." Nevaeh looked rather calm than troubled. "What a sweet name. Does it mean something? from your parents?" She paused and gave the other a sweet smile while offering a hand shake. "My name is Nevaeh, a winter pixie." Now, she intentionally included the last part just to let the other know what kind of creature she was under the humanoid figure.  Nevaeh feared no one, including the unlikable; however, with the exception of Mother Nature (of course). She sensed the maiden to be someone from the dark and so, darkness comes trouble. That was what she was troubled about. 

Seukhye looked at her for a moment, smiling lightly in amusement. “Yes, I am sure. Really. It happens a lot- I’m a wallflower” She said with a shrug. It was true. She was a wallflower. Often times, she’d sit in class reading and someone would just try and sit right on her, only to jump up apologizing profusely about how they hadn’t seen her there. It had happened from the moment she joined the school and she quickly grew accustomed to just skirting out of the way. She searched the other girl’s features for a moment, in awe of her. She really was startlingly beautiful.

A comment about her name pulled Seukhye from her thoughts, blinking a bit until she understood what the other said. A gentle rosy blush rose on her cheeks and she had to clear her throat gently before she could reply. “Thank you.. I’m not actually sure. I don’t um… I don’t remember my parents.” She admitted, looking to the ground. This was so NOT something she wanted to talk about with a girl she just met. So, she diverted the topic. “Navaeh? It’s beautiful.. Does it have special meaning where you come from?” She asked softly, genuinely curious as she shook her hand. Suddenly, she realized they were blocking the door. “Oh!” She held Navaeh’s hand gently a moment longer and led her from the room and out of the way. “Sorry about that. I don’t particularly enjoy being trampled and somehow I feel as though those students were about to knock us both down. Or well.. At least they would me- but that’s beside the point.” She processed the rest of what she said. “I think you are the first pixie I’ve met.” Seukhye said softly, thinking.

 “I’m um.. sort of the opposite of you. I’m a demon…” She glanced up at Navaeh, hoping she wouldn’t really take her heritage into account. It wasn’t important that she was a demon. She wasn’t like others. She just hoped this new girl could see that. 

The maiden’s smile was one of the sweetest she had seen in a while. Those genuine eyes that sparkle like precious gems kept on tabernacles. Nevaeh just amusingly stared at her features as she spoke. Did she just say she was a—  Nevaeh gasped and shook her head in disbelief. The first thing that came out from her mind was a lie.  What the maiden said was a lie. Or maybe she was just naturally humble and kind? That was the second. “A wallflower? You?” She laughed. “I don’t think so sweetie.  I’ve seen ladies like you get all the attention and love from the crowd.  How is that even possible?” Still in denial, her forehead wrinkled with seriousness drawn all over. 

As much as Nevaeh observed how the other kept looking at her, what drew her attention next was the growing blush covering her porcelain cheeks after the compliment. Nevaeh surely made her shy, but in actuality, she didn’t expect her reaction to be something new? Nevaeh even thought of giving her a unique praise instead of the usual and ordinary. Aside from the thank you Nevaeh received from the maiden, what drew her attention was the fact that the maiden didn’t have parents; much worst, she didn’t even remember them. With this, Nevaeh felt stupid for saying such personal things that might make the conversation awkward. The maiden looked down to the floor while answering the question, and Nevaeh felt the pain for her. This reaction from her was nothing new, Nevaeh was and will always be sensitive towards others, even with a complete stranger. 

"Thank you." Nevaeh softly replied. "Read my name backwards. The witnesses during my birth said I was laughing instead of crying after coming out from my mother’s womb and a halo was formed right after. According to my parents, my original name was Aliah but then they changed it to Nevaeh and gave my name to my younger twin sister." She paused for a good five seconds  and started laughing. "They didn’t even know we were twins!  We—-" Nevaeh came to a stop as the maiden showed her out of the room. She sure had forgotten about the other students coming out from the classroom. "Oh! no, don’t be sorry."  She said while walking down to where the maiden was taking her. As far as where their conversation was going, Nevaeh realized something worth worrying for. The maiden had a low self-esteem. With a face and personality like hers, Nevaeh could not help herself but wonder why.  She wanted to ask but it wasn’t right; she knew it wasn’t time yet. "Oh, am I really?" Neveah diverted her attention to the statement the mainden had said. "And may I ask, what is your first impression of me?"

Getting-to-know was one of Nevaeh’s favorite. Though being friendly was not her forte, she sure could talk. The conversation was getting pretty interesting, then the magic word was said. So, Nevaeh’s pixie instinct was right. The maiden in front of her came from the dark side, and much worst because she was a demon. What’s next? Nevaeh didn’t know exactly. From the books she had read, their kind were the worst of all the known creatures and as a pixie, saving her dear life meant to stay away from them.  Nevaeh didn’t mean to offend her, but out of reflex she closed her mouth shut and was unable to speak again. The eerie silence filled the space as Nevaeh stopped talking and to add on the rest of the students left the scene. She wasn’t scared but she surely didn’t know exactly what to say. Where should she begin?

Seukhye almost laughed when the lovely pixie said she couldn’t be a wallflower. But as the other continued, her spirits dropped. Oh… A forced smile worked its way onto her lips. “I guess looks can’t be everything. Believe it or not, I’m just here. Not really anything to anyone.” She shrugged once more and averted her eyes, not willing to let her see just how much that had affected her. Her mind twisted that beautiful laugh, made it seem mocking… Her eyes burned as the color changed once more.

Once a soft brown, her eyes were now a sharp crystal once more, displaying the pain she felt through color rather than expression. It took her a moment to think about the pixie’s name, but when she understood it, she gasped softly. “That’s… that’s amazing. I would have never realized… How very clever of your parents.” She said with a soft smile. Heaven… and she is like heaven. Navaeh… You are very kind.  “You have a twin? I almost feel sorry for her, to live in your shadow… Has she grown up well?” They walked along through the halls until Seukhye found a rather empty spot and sighed. This was how she was most comfortable. Secluded and quiet.

“My first impression?” she asked, tilting her head. “I thought you were beautiful. Absolutely stunning. You sort of mesmerized me…” She answered without thinking then blinked a bit. Her eyes widened as she realized what she had just said, blushing once more. “I’m sorry… that must sound so odd…” She bit softly at her lower lip. “But it’s true… I was very curious about you, Navaeh. I still am.”

Seukhye sent a soft smile to this new girl, liking their conversation so far. But the silence that followed telling the pixie of her heritage and race tore her. For the first time, she let pain flash across her features, tears burning behind her eyes. “I… I’m sorry.” She whispered before turning and running off. She couldn’t sit and listen to the rejection of friendship she was sure to get. The closed off look on Navaeh’s face. The silence… it killed her. Icy tears slid from her eyes.

Eventually, she fell somewhere in the forest. She didn’t even try to get up, instead, curling up and wrapping her arms around her legs. Her wrists burned and she glanced at them briefly before gently digging one nail into her skin. That was all she needed, that little bit of relief. With that, her tears dried and all that was left was a void. A shell of a pretty face. 

"You seemed to be underestimating your abilities, Seukhye." Nevaeh’s concerned remark pinpointed the maiden’s weakest link. "You have what you need but you don’t know how to utilize your resources. You know, it takes effort and courage to have something and you need to earn it." Nevaeh sure noticed how the maiden responded to her previous replies and she expected to see more unlikely reactions; although, she thought it would be the last. Nevaeh didn’t see any reason to continue bothering to explain, and she was not willing to lose the possibility of having a very first friend. Crystalline eyes?! With a spark in the maiden’s eyes, Nevaeh thought she was an ice-being or a fairy as well. It was odd though. Nevaeh didn’t feel any connection at all… not even a slightest pound of her heart beat made any difference.

"Li-live in my shadow?" Nevaeh hesitantly asked and her brows slightly raised in question. "I never thought of our relationship being dysfunctional. In fact, we live complimentary to each other. We enhance our unique capabilities and powers by helping and looking out for each other just like how we were taught. I love my Aliyah and…" Nevaeh’s shoulders raised up and slowly back down, bowing her head as she realized one thing. She once had made her sister cry and even worst that she left their land, her sister might be having a hard time filling the gaps she left behind. With a short but deep sigh, Nevaeh slowly lift her head and smiled like nothing was wrong, keeping a simple shook of her head to ascertain the claims. 

As they walked down to a rather enclosed corner, the conversation got personal and the air had gotten more comfortable. Nevaeh found herself smiling from the maiden’s responses. She sure could change mood that fast especially if the topic was about her. “Oh no, nothing is odd about what you said, and I mean it. I really am happy that you think of me that way.” She excitedly interrupted and giggled. “I’d like you to be curious of me and I’m willing to show you more, though, I am hoping not to disappoint you!”

Out of all the creatures Nevaeh would want to befriend, demons would be last in line. In other words, the probability of her wanting to know their kind would be close to impossible. Actually, she didn’t have  any plans to even talk to them either. Then now what? She now felt to have fallen in her own trap. “I—ah.. no. Don’t say sorry.” Nevaeh apologetically said while looking at the maiden’s eyes clouded with tears about to fall. “Please, I didn—-.” Halted, words were left unspoken as the maiden started running away. Nevaeh! how could you!  Nevaeh reprimanded herself while following the trails the maiden left. She had made someone cry for the first time and that made her heart ached like she was thrown to the dungeon of mistakes. 

Instead of running, Nevaeh decided to transform back to her fairy appearance and flew swiftly to catch the maiden. “No.” Nevaeh initially said upon reaching the area where the maiden sat. “NOOOOO! Stop!” Her little high-piched voice echoed around the vast forest as she flew as fast as she could to stop the maiden from digging the nail into her skin, but she came too late.  Nevaeh came to a stop and was overshadowed with guilt, blaming her insensitiveness towards the maiden’s feelings. “I’m so so sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt you.” She said with tears falling down her cheeks, flying her way down to sit on the maiden’s shoulder and rest her small head against the maiden’s hair strands. Nevaeh stopped bothering that the maiden was a demon. Right then and there, all she cared was to comfort the creature deeply hurt of her actions, and she was willing to compensate for it. 

“With all due respect, Navaeh, I’m not underestimating anything about myself. I’m stating what I know to be truth. From the moment I got here, I have been shoved aside and pushed to the background. Just because you think I’m pretty and should get all the attention, doesn’t mean it happens that way.” Seukhye said sharply, the crystal in her eyes appearing sharper than before. This girl may be kind, but she has no idea of how the world works. Looks are a plus. They don’t determine everything. She huffed and crossed her arms, closing her eyes for a moment to try and calm down. There really was no reason to get upset at her new friend.

“I’m not saying that she is bad or anything! I just mean that… Well, you were born first and with a beautiful halo at that. For her to be born after such a magnificent birth… I can’t imagine she would enjoy being known as the second twin, if that makes sense.” Seukhye couldn’t figure out how to explain herself. She watched as Navaeh’s mood shifted, just barely caught a look of sadness on her features. Guilt swelled in her chest when she realized the pain she must have just caused her.

She looked at the pixie, curious once again about her mannerisms. “You certainly haven’t disappointed me so far~ I’m sure it’ll stay that way. I enjoy your company.” She told her with a nod and a smile. And it was true. Navaeh thus far had been nothing but kind and funny in places. Her cheerful personality helped Seukhye smile and remain happy. But she couldn’t help but to react negatively to that silence.

Blood ran from the small cut slowly, a deep red, much thicker than normal blood. Tears ran from her eyes like a river after a flood. It had been a long time since she had cried and it felt as though all the pain that was pent up just came rushing out in this moment. She buried her face in her arms and cried until she felt Navaeh land on her shoulder and speak to her. Gently, Seukhye reached and took her in her hand, letting her sit how she felt comfortable, using her hand as a platform. She looked at the pixie for a moment before speaking softly, knowing her voice may seem louder than normal with Navaeh at this current size. “I know that I’m a monster, Navaeh… I know that my family and who we are is evil… I’m meant to be a killer… I just… I don’t want to be this way, but your reaction shows me that it doesn’t matter… People will always see me for my heritage and not me.” 

Listening to the maiden’s response, Neveah decided to nod and tried to understand the situation the other creature had gone to. She never had experienced being pushed away or being ignored, so it was only right for her not to argue anymore. The reality of other creatures were different for the pixie who lived her whole life above anything else— being popular and whatnot. Besides, she had an aristocrat blood to begin with. It was easy for her to get everyone’s attention with just one call.

The maiden had a good point.  There were disadvantages of having a twin sister, older or younger, they would get compared no matter what; however, it was totally switched on Nevaeh’s case. Aliyah, her twin sister, had their mother’s talent. She had good leadership skills like a mother’s instinct, she had a sense of responsibility towards the citizens, and she was no doubt more talented than Nevaeh in terms of arts and crafts. The only thing Nevaeh could stand out from her sister was her weaponry skills, for which they (females) were forbidden to learn, and the reason why she left. She felt out of place and she felt the need for long term escape. 

Nevaeh’s optimism towards life can never encompass how she greatly appreciate beauty that was her. She sure thought and felt beautiful inside and out. Unlike her humble sister, she took pride of her appearance and used it as a shield to hide her weakness against those who judged and ridiculed her existence.  Nevaeh had gotten all the praise here and there, and she embraced it; even for the fact that she knew all along that they were all just for a show. Although with all of these, Seukhye’s confession was an excemption. Nevaeh found the maiden to be truthful and honest just like how it showed with her mesmerizing appearance. 

"For all my life, I was drawn to literatures telling stories of how demons came to be and how wicked they were. I’ve seen multiple images of death caused by demons, and how the victims were brutally murdered." Nevaeh shivered upon reiterating her knowledge about them while comfortably sitting down on the maiden’s soft palm.  She intentionally made her voice louder so the maiden could hear her. "Earlier, I happened to feel as if I was in a battle field. I wasn’t scared yet my body forced to shut down out of reflex. As a female pixie, I was taught to flee and hide underground whenever trouble arises, but I trained myself to refrain from running away and that was the reason why I stopped talking." Laughing awkwardly, Nevaeh wiped her tears away and stood up. She flapped her wings and flew towards the maiden’s face, wiping the tear drop away from her clouded lid. "Don’t worry. You made me realize how different you are from  the other demons. It’s okay now, I won’t reject you." 

Seukhye shook her head and tried not to sigh. “You don’t get it, Nevaeh. You already have… Shutting down like that.. It was the same as running away. To make a girl who loves to talk fall silent is to be rejected. I am grateful that you came after me, and even more so that you tried to stop me from hurting myself, but it doesn’t matter anymore.” She gave a weak laugh and looked up at the sky, trying to find a way to stop her emotions from taking control. 

Energy pulsed through her body, and Seukhye could feel herself losing control of it. She knew it would burst and probably destroy the area around her. “You should go. Before you end up hurt. Please..” she said softly, her body beginning to shine slightly. The soft light was hot to the touch, heating the ground around her. 

Gently, she pushed the pixie away, not wanting her to end up hurt. She stood and walked deeper into the woods, desperate to find her hiding place before it took control. 

“The thing with me, Nevaeh,” she said over her shoulder as she walked. “Is that I’m not all that different, when it comes down to it. I just control it better- have enough humanity that it takes extremes to make me like them.” Seukhye felt her eyes change, knew from the vividness of the world around her that they were black. Sadness to anger.. 

“You asked earlier who I am, right?” She turned to face the pixie, now a good distance away. “Well this is me.” Her eyes were onyx, endless to look in and her skin glowed with the energy of light. Even her hair grew darker, taking on a reddish tinge. “I am exactly the monster that your instincts and all those old books warned you about.” 

Do I really need to argue with this? Nevaeh asked herself before turning to look at the maiden with sincerely worried eyes. To Nevaeh, it seemed like her deepest words of regret were not enough to comfort the other’s pained heart. The taint of her undesirable actions was deeply buried in the maiden’s troubled soul that it would take patience and time to heal, or perhaps just another day to calm down.  The maiden’s laugh emitted aura’s of unmistakably raging demon inside her; Nevaeh then knew something was up.

 Sitting right next to the maiden who seemed to have lose control,  Nevaeh’s hands shook and started to sweat. She felt the temperature around her warm up and in a quick tick of the clock, something was not right anymore. As the maiden’s body begun to light, Nevaeh heard her talk  and that was already a sign for her to leave. “No, I won’t leave you!” Nevaeh insisted while crying. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt you this way.”  Shaking her head continuously, fear and guilt summed up in one overwhelming emotion flowing from the pixie. She wasn’t used of hurting someone’s feelings and this circumstance was burdening. If the maiden didn’t forgive her, then she wouldn’t forgive herself.

 “Please, let me help you. I—“ Being pushed away, Nevaeh end up falling to the ground with her right hand burnt from attempting to grab the maiden’s hand.  She reached out, calling her name repeatedly but the maiden didn’t stop from walking further to the woods. Nevaeh’s sobs became as audible as it could be. How could she be so reckless to cause all this trouble and pain?

 Nevaeh  wasn’t able to follow her even if she wanted to. The heat weakened her systems; it was hard for her to move a muscle to stand and she was suffering from dyspnea. Actually, it was because of mixed feelings. She was emotionally and physically drained. Nevaeh heard her talk in a distance and she saw the maiden’s tantalizing eyes changed into something like onyx. Even from afar she saw how the other was changing into like some demon she didn’t want to see.

 Nevaeh stayed silent the whole time the maiden was talking. Her eyes filled with sadness for causing the terrible event to take place. Just like how she wanted to change the maiden’s mind, hers was now unchangeable too. Nevaeh saw the maiden changed into a possible fiend but it didn’t convince her to stop becoming her loyal companion. “I’m sorry, Seukhye.” She whispered in the air while watching the maiden leave and go further deep into the forest. “Nothing will change. If this is who you are, then I will happily embrace it. Remember that. I still am your friend.” [FIN]